Vancouver Sun reporter Gordon Hoekstra has been recognized for his investigation into the failure of B.C. authorities to enforce penalties against securities fraudsters.

Hoekstra’s series Stealing Away won third prize in the 2018 Excellence in Investment Journalism Awards, chosen by the Portfolio Management Association of Canada.

The series, which was published in parts in November and December 2017 and February 2018, examined how hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and penalty orders went largely uncollected, leaving fraud victims without reimbursement.

Hoekstra’s reporting found that much of that failure was due to gaps in securities enforcement throughout B.C. It has since prompted the RCMP to announce plans to work more closely with the B.C. Securities Commission, and spurred the BCSC to begin to seize property and goods belonging to financial fraudsters.

The awards were created to highlight outstanding journalism that helps build a better understanding of the investment industry and boosts Canadians’ financial literacy.

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